Every member of the All Blacks will get a bonus of $100,000 if the team wins next year's Rugby World Cup.
They'll get $35,000 each for coming second. A World Cup win would cost the rugby union $3 million in bonuses.
The bonuses are part of a new professional players agreement between the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) and the players' association.
The three-year employment contract also allows each New Zealand Super 15 rugby franchise (the Super 14 becomes the Super 15 next year when the Melbourne Rebels join the competition) to hire two overseas-based players.
Until now, as far as bringing in players from outside was concerned, franchises were only able to hire players eligible to play for the All Blacks.
Maximum payment of $180,000
Bonuses aside, the contracts for top players - mostly All Blacks - will be made up of a Super 15 retainer and an NZRU component, with Super 15 franchises able to pay a player a maximum of $180,00.
The minimum pay for a Super 15 player goes up from $65,000 to $70,000.
Payments for players involved in the national provincial competition will range from $15,000 to a maximum of $60,000, although a province will be able to pay two veteran players $90,000 each if they've played eight or more seasons for the province.
